State helps local furloughed federal workers

Thousands furloughed without pay

Thousands of federal employees across the country were sent home Tuesday because of the federal shutdown.

Those workers are not getting paid and must wait to find out when they'll be able to get back to work.

The Vermont Department of Labor is prepared to help any federal employees, or other workers, who may be eligible for unemployment as a result of the furlough.

“Call the department of labor claim's line, unemployment claims line and speak directly with a staff member, and the staff member will talk to them about when to open a claim if they're eligible to open a claim,” said Dept. of Labor commissioner Annie Noonan.

Although the state labor department is about 80 percent federally funded, Noonan says the Vermont unemployment insurance program will continue without interruption.

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